Carbon

Carbon is a versatile element that appears in various forms, including graphite, coke, and coal. It is a key component in many industrial processes, especially in steelmaking and foundries. The leading producers of carbon materials are China, India, and the United States. Carbon is essential for producing steel, energy generation, and manufacturing graphite electrodes.

Sub-Category	Abbreviation	Core Content Range	Size Range
Anthracite		C 75-100%	0.5-80 mm
Biocoal		C 73-99%	0-40 mm
Blast Furnace Coke	BFC	Various	n/a
Calcined Petroleum Coke	CPC	C 93-100%	0-2 mm
Carbon Powder		C 95-100%	0-3 mm
Coal Tar Pitch		Various	n/a
Coke Fines		C 84-100%	1-25 mm
Graphite		C 94-99%	0.01-0.5 mm
Graphitized Petroleum Coke	GPC	C 98-100%	0-30 mm
Injection Coal		C 95-97%	0-2 mm
Nut Coke		C 82-100%	5-76.2 mm
Petroleum Coke	Petcoke	Various	n/a
Pulverised Coal Injection	PCI	Various	n/a
Recarburiser		C 75-100%	0-80 mm
Recarburiser Pellets	Recarb Pellets	C 96-100%	n/a

Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.

Metalshub provides producers and consumers of carbon with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects over 2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of carbon and buyers to discover new suppliers of carbon.

For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows steel mills, foundries, and other consumers to digitalise their procurement process in order to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying, and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows miners, traders, and other sellers to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory, and optimise their sales book.

The top producers of carbon materials include:

• China – ~50% of global production, focusing on coal and coke production
• India – ~<15%, with significant coal mining and carbon-based material production
• United States – ~10%, focusing on high-quality anthracite and coke for industrial use
• Russia – ~<10%, producing carbon from extensive coal reserves
• Australia – ~<10%, with major coal mining operations for export

Some of the key producers of carbon include:

• China Shenhua Energy Company (China) – ~20% of global carbon production
• Peabody Energy (USA) – ~10%, a leader in coal and coke production
• Coal India Limited (India) – ~10%, a major player in coal mining and carbon production
• Glencore (Switzerland) – ~<10%, with operations in coal mining and carbon refining
• Siberian Coal Energy Company (Russia) – ~5%, focusing on coal and coke production

Carbon is primarily extracted through coal mining and refined into different forms, such as coke, graphite, and coal tar. Anthracite and coke are processed through calcination to remove volatile components, creating carbon products suitable for industrial applications. Petroleum coke, a byproduct of oil refining, is also widely used in steelmaking and energy production.

Carbon is predominantly used in steelmaking (~70%), where it acts as a key component in producing iron and steel. Carbon products such as anthracite, coke, and graphite are crucial for industrial processes, with applications ranging from foundries to chemical production. Graphite, a form of carbon, is used in various electronic applications such as batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, and electrodes. Sub-categories of carbon include anthracite, blast furnace coke, calcined petroleum coke, recarburiser, and graphite products, each serving a specific role in steelmaking and energy production.